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Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Ferrari-California

Ferrari-California

The Ferrari California is a grand touring sports car produced by the Italian manufacturer Ferrari. It is a two door "2+2" hard top convertible. The California is powered by front-mid mounted gasoline direct injection 4.3 L (260 cu in) V8 with 460 PS (338 kW; 454 hp). The car revives the "California" name used for the late-1950s Ferrari 250 GT.
The California was launched at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. According to industry rumors, the California originally started as a concept for a new Maserati,
but the resulting expense to produce the car led the Fiat Group to
badge it as a Ferrari in order to justify the high cost of purchase; the
company denies this, however. The California represents a new, fourth model range for the company.
The California is built in a new production line adjacent to the existing factory at Maranello. The existing production line produces 27 cars per day, or 6,000 per year.

The California represents a number of firsts for Ferrari:

The first front engined Ferrari with a V8

The first to feature a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission

The first with a folding metal roof

The first with multi-link rear suspension

The first with direct petrol injection

Bosch produced the direct injection system. The engine displaces
4,297 cubic centimetres (262.2 cubic inches) and delivers 338 kW
(453 bhp) at 7,750 rpm; its maximum torque produced is 485 N·m
(358 lbf·ft) at 5,000 rpm. The resulting 80 kW (107 bhp) per litre of
engine displacement is one of the highest for a naturally aspirated
engine, as other manufacturers have used supercharging or turbocharging
to reach similar power levels. The next version of the California has a high possibility of being turbocharged.
The body computer system was developed by Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting

Performance

The California has a top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph) and it can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.9 seconds. Although 180 kilograms (397 lb) heavier and 30 PS (22 kW; 30 hp) less powerful than the mid-engined F430, the California reaches 97 km/h (60 mph) in the same time as the F430 due to the dual-clutch transmission.

Aerodynamics

Ferrari spent over 1,000 hours in the wind tunnel with a
one-third-scale model of the California perfecting its aerodynamics.
With the top up, the California has a drag coefficient of Cd=0.32, making it the most aerodynamic Ferrari ever made until the introduction of the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

On 15 February 2012, Ferrari announced an upgrade of the 2009 model
which includes weight loss and engine tuning. Ferrari reduced 30 kg
(66 lb) from the body to enhance performance whilst still keeping the
car a coupe convertible GT
with four seats. Ferrari has also tuned the engine for greater
performance levels with an increased power output of 30 PS. As a result,
the GDI V8 engine
delivers 490 PS (360 kW; 480 hp) and an additional 15 N·m (11 lbf·ft)
of torque at 5,000 rpm. Its acceleration reduced its 0–100 km/h time
from 3.9 seconds to 3.8. The new California is also the first to receive
the Handling Speciale Package, which includes Delphi MagneRide magnetorheological dampers
which increase the steering response by 10% along with stiffer springs
and a faster ECU with 50% faster response time. The package also
minimises body roll and increases the response of driver inputs. The car
was released at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show as a 2012 model in Europe and as a 2013 model year for the US.